Means for setting up cartons



Nov. 27, 1934; B ER 1,981,988

MEANS FOR SETTING UP CARTONS 7 Filed Nov. 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 Z I 5 5 J52 vi??? for:

WW I 37 fillozwqq- Nov. 27, 1934. M. BURGER 1,981,988

MEANS FOR SETTING UP CARTONS Filed Nov. 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

It is the common practice to ship cellular cartons, such as egg cartons for example, in a collapsed, flattened condition, requiring the user to set them up ready for use. Where large numbers of cartons are used much time is consumed in setting them up if this be done entirely by hand. The object of the, present invention is to produce a simple and novel mechanical means for facilitating the setting up of certain kinds of cartons or the like.

One of the types of cellular egg cartons to which the present invention is particularly applicable is that illustrated in Patent No. 1,327,946 of January 13, 1920 in which there are a series of cross partitions mounted in a central longitudinal partition member of a body blank for swinging movements; the ends of the cross partitions being adapted to be entered in slots in wing portions of the body blank when these wing portions are folded or swung up to form front and rear walls. In setting up this type of carton, the'wings of the body blank are drawn apart, causing the cross partitions to set themselves at right angles to the longitudinal partition. Then the wings must be swung up past the ends of the cross partitions which are thus caused to enter slots in the wings. Viewed in one of its aspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel mechanical means, as distinguished from manual means, for setting up or aiding in the setting up of cartons of this particular type.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a side view, a

top plan view, and an end elevation of a device or machine embodying my invention in one of its forms; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a collapsed or flattened carton adapted to be set up in the device or machine of Figs. 1-3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a partially opened carton in the device, and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing in dotted lines the shape into which the body blank is drawn in the setting-up operation, and showing in full lines the final shape with the wings interlocked with the ends of the cross partitions.

Referring to the drawings, A and B represent the two end portions or wings of a body blank for a carton, and C represents a fold in the body blank constituting a longitudinal partition. Mounted in the longitudinal partition so as to project equally on opposite sides thereof are a series of separate transverse partitions D. Cartons of this kind are shipped in a collapsed, flattened condi-,

tion, illustrated in Fig. 4. In order to set up the cartons, the body blank is bent or folded to form two troughs lying'side by side and is held in this shape by the cross partitions; the ends of the cross partitions extending through slots E in the wings A and B, and being held against accidental separation by hooks d on the ends of the cross partitions. In other words, the body blank is folded or bent so as to be W-shaped in cross section, the outer-most pieces or wings resting in the notches formed between the hooks or projections d and the body portions of the cross partitions. This construction is well known, being disclosed in Patent 1,327,946 to which reference has been made. The device or machine illustrating one embodiment of my invention is one adapted for use in connection with setting up the particular carton which has just been described.

All that it is necessary to do in order to permit the cross partitions to be interlocked with the front and rear walls of the carton is to pull the wings A and B apart into the position shown in Figure 5, whereupon the cross partitions will set themselves at right angles to the longitudinal partition. Then, if the cross partitions are firmly held and the wings A and B are swung down, the ends of the cross partitions will enter the slots in the wings. vided means to engage the longitudinal and cross partitions and hold them. against relative displacement after the carton has been opened, as in Fig. 5, so that the ends of the cross partitions cannot get out of line with the slots in the I have therefore pro-- wings as the wings are swung or folded into their porting base 2, a deep narrow, central groove 3 extending from one end of the block to the other in one of its sides which, in the present instance happens to be the top side. In this same side of the block, also, are a series of narrower deep transverse grooves 4 spaced the same distance apart as are the cross partitions in the carton to be set up. The block is preferably about as wide as the widthof the carton when set up and, at one end, on the grooved side, is a stop 5.

It will be seen that when a carton has been partially opened, as indicated in Figure 5, it may be placed over the block, with one end of the body blank engaged with the stop 5, the longitudinal partition registering with the groove 3 and the cross partitions registering with the grooves 4. Then, upon moving the carton and .the block relatively toward each other, the partitions enter the grooves and are held in fixed relation to each other; the wings A and B extending laterally in opposite directions from the device. The carton wings are then swung down relatively to the block, causing the ends of the partitions to-be engaged in the slots E.

The upper parts of the grooves in the block are preferably widened to provide flaring mouths to guide the partitions into their desired positions. The grooves 4 are shown as having flaring mouths 6. The flaring portion .of the longitudinal groove may serve an additional purpose, being in the form of a wide V-shaped trough conforming to the V-shaped bottom of the carton. As a matter of fact, the V-shaped trough is'preferably shallower and wider than the V- shaped bottom of the carton for a purpose to be.

hereinafter explained. Also, since in the particular type of'carton illustrated the front and rear walls converge toward the bottom, the long corners are cut away from the block on the troughed side to provide converging slopes 7, 7 substantially conforming to the slopes of the front and rear walls of the carton. As a matter of fact, each of the slopes 7 and 7 is oppositely inclined with respect to. the corresponding side 8 .of the trough which it meets to form a longitudinal ridge 9. v

When the wings A and B are swung down they will correspond to the dotted line positions illustrated in Figure 6, following along the slopes 8, and 7. When the wings are released they spring back to the full line positions illustrated in Figure 6, causing the outer ends of the slots 'E' to be drawn in behind the hooks or projections 41, thereby preventing the wings from again swinging oil the ends of the cross partitions.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a simple and novel means for bringing cell-forming partitions and a cooperating member into relative positions to create a cellular structure,

thereby effecting a great saving in time and labor over the old hand setting-up operations. While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions pr my invention constituting the appended claims.-

I claim:

1. A means for setting up a carton of the type having a longitudinal partition and movable transverse partitions, comprising a support, elements on said support to engagethe longitudinal partition, and elements on the support to engage the cross partitions and hold them at predetermined angles to,the longitudinal partition, said elements extending adjacent the edge of said support on at least one of its sides.

2. A means to facilitate the engagement of the ends of the cross partitions to the front and rear wallsof a carton including a body member, a longitudinal and cross. partitions: comprising a support, elements on the support to engage and hold the longitudinal partition and the cross partitions of a partially opened carton, and stop elements to engage the body member and arrest the front and rear walls when said walls have been moved into engagement with the ends of thecross partitions. e

3. A 'means for setting up a carton of the type in which a series of cross partitions are pivOtally supported between their ends upon a central longitudinal partition in a body member and in which the ends of the cross partitions are passed through slots in wings on the body member forming front and rear walls when the carton is set up: comprising a support, means on the support to engage the longitudinal partition and the cross partitions of a partially opened carton and hold the cross partitions at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal partition, and means on the support to cause thewings on thebody member to bend along predetermined longitudinal lines when the wings are swung to bring the ends of the cross partitions into the slots therein.

4. A device for setting up cellular cartons of the 'type having a body portion, a top hinged to one side of said body portion, and pivoted cross partitions comprising two rows of stationary partition-engaging blocks spaced by a single longitudinal groove and by a series of transverse grooves, said device extending downwardly adjacent one of said rows of blocks whereby to receive the top of said carton.

5. A device for setting up cellular cartons of the type having a body portion, a tophinged to one side of said body portion, and pivoted cross parmembers for causing the body portion of the carton to bend along predetermined longitudinallines when said carton is set up on saiddevice, said device extending downwardly adjacent to one of said rows of partition-engaging members whereby to receive the top of said carton.

6. A device for setting up cellular cartons of the type having a body portion, a'top hinged to one side of said body portion and pivoted cross partitions, said device comprising two rows of stationary partition-engaging members spaced by a longitudinal opening and by a series of transverse openings, and guide means cooperable with said body portion for flxingsaid carton in proper position with respect to said partition-engaging members, said device extending downwardly adjacent one of said rows of partition-engaging 7 members whereby to receive the top of the carton.

"l. A device for setting up cellular cartons of the type having a body portion and pivoted cross partitions, said device comprising two rows of the type having a body portion, a top hinged to one side of said body portion, and pivoted cross partitions, said device comprisingtwo rows of stationary partition-engaging members spaced 8. A device for setting up cellular cartons of i by a single longitudinal opening and by a series of transverse openings extending completely fthrough said device, said transverse openings being unobstructed adjacent the outer edges of said partition-engaging members, said device extending downwardly adjacent the outer edges of one of said rows of partition-engaging members whereby to receive the top of the carton.

MARTIN BURGER. 

